INDECENT

By Paula Vogel

Musical Director, Dialect Consultant, Jewish Consultant: Matthew Greenberg

Director: Dr. Radhica Ganapathy
Scenic Design: Secret Cole
Costume Design: Tobias Francis
Lighting and Projections Designer: Levi Main
Sound and Projection Designer: Lex Allenbaugh
Choreographer: Nash Dawson
Stage Manager: Natalie Tirendi
Production Manager: Aubrey Sirtautas
Dialect Design and Coach: Brianne Taylor
Intimacy Director: Jessica Morgan
Photos: West Virginia University Marketing

Indecent allowed me to utilize various multi-disciplinary skills across dramaturgy, music, and voice, to tell this story truthfully and authentically.

When consulting with Dr. Ganapathy, we believed it was important to share the history of Judaism as it relates to both the historical nature of the play and the role of contemporary judaism in America. I gave an interactive powerpoint lecture on the first day of rehearsal, while answering questions on the role judaism in the wold of the play. Moreover, I gave context into what yiddish words meant, how props and costumes would be designed to meet the religious standards, all in service of creating an authentic world on stage.

I taught the cast songs in yiddish that they would need to sing live during the play. Likewise, I coached the actor/musicians on musical arrangements to effectively play and sing at the same time.

During the last few weeks of the rehearsal, I offered dialect notes to the cast in consulting with what our dialect designer, Brianne Taylor, was looking for in the play. Outside of the rehearsal space, I would have one on one meetings with actors to review notes, offer trips on producing the proper accents and dialects, and give actors tips and tricks to warm up their voices in accents.

Indecent was a major hit a West Virginia University. I was honored to be a part of it and learn about the various aspects to collaborate successfully. I thank Dr. Ganapathy for letting me be a part of this moving work. I learned a lot from her on what it takes to successfully direct in an academic institution, while meeting pedagogical and professional goals for the students involved.